Minutes of JSA-NCC meeting

31st March, 2018, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi

Overall Facilitation: Sulakshana and Amulya

Agenda Item Initiating the Discussion Time

Introductions, Agreement on Agenda 9.30-10.00

Forthcoming Assemblies and JSA’s involvement 10.00 – 11.30

National Health Assembly in Raipur Sulakshana
People’s Health Assembly in Dhaka in November 2018 Sarojini
COPASAH Assembly Abhay, Renu
Bioethics Conference in Bangalore, December 2018 Sarojini

TEA BREAK

Participation in broad platforms Abhay 12.00 – 12.30

JSA Co-ordinated activities 12.30 – 13.30

JSA-PBI Program on Budget Tracking Gargeya
Response to NHPS Sundar
Community Monitoring Amulya

LUNCH BREAK

JSA’s Work in Thematic Areas 14.30 – 16.30

Health Systems – including PPPs, privatization Sulakshana, Sundar
Access to Medicines Amitava
Child Health and Nutrition Vandana, Chhaya
Women’s Health Renu, Sarojini
Environmental and Occupational Health Amulya

JSA Organisation Strengthening Amit 16.30 – 17.30

Participants:

S.No Name State Organisation

1 AmulyaNidhi M.P JSA M.P
2 Dr R.S Dahiya Haryana JSA Haryana+HGVS
3 Jagdish Patel Gujarat JSA
4 Ameer Khan Tamil Nadu SOCHARA+MNI
5 Haridasan Kerala JSA+AIPSN
6 Sarojini Delhi SAMA+JSA
7 Deepa Delhi SAMA+JSA
8 Adsa Delhi SAMA+JSA
9 Tarnistha Ray Gujarat JSA
10 AmitavaGuha Delhi JSA
11 Sanjeev Sinha Uttar Pradesh JSA
12 Vinod Pateriya Madhya Pradesh JSA
13 PrasannaSaligram Karnataka JSA
14 RichaChintan Delhi CBGA+JSA
15 AnoobRazak Jharkhand JSA+JSA-TISS
16 MuneerMammikutty Delhi PHRN+JSA
17 Osama Ummer Delhi PHRN+JSA
18 Kriti Shukla Delhi JSA
19 Ashwini Mahajan Maharashtra JSA
20 Mira Shiva Delhi IHES+AIDAN+JSA
21 YK Sandhya Uttar Pradesh HWF+Sahayag+JSA
22 T Sundararaman Maharashtra AIPSN+JSA
23 Chandrakant Chhattisgarh JSA
24 Deepika Joshi Chhattisgarh PHRN+JSA
25 Satnam Singh Haryana AIPSN+JSA
26 Abhijit More Maharashtra JAA+JSA
27 SuhasKolekar Maharashtra NAPM+JSA
28 Indranil Delhi JSA
29 Kusum Malik Haryana JSA
30 Susana Barria Karnataka PSI+JSA
31 Sonya Gill Maharashtra AIDWA+JSA
32 P. kousalya Tamil Nadu PWN+JSA
33 Amit Kumar Bihar CHARM+JSA
34 Gopal Ram Verma Rajasthan SNVS+JSA
35 Tushita Rajasthan Prayas+JSA
36 GanapathyMurugan Delhi PHRN+JSA
37 Mohan Rao Delhi JNU+JSA
38 GargeyaTelakapalli Delhi AIPSN+JSA
39 Amit Sengupta Delhi AIPSN+JSA
40 Sulakshana Nandi Chhattisgarh PHRN+JSA
Throughout the meeting it was articulated by several members that enough time is not
available for discussions on the listed agenda items. It was felt that JSA NCC meetings should be
of minimum 2 days duration, and preferably, should not be tagged on to some other meeting.

Peoples Health Assembly in Dhaka

Sarojini presented the decision by the PHM to organize the 4th Peoples Health Assembly in
Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 15-19 November 2018. Around 1500 participants from across the globe
are expected to attend the Assembly. Participants will be mobilized through country and
regional mobilization processes leading up to the Assembly. The main venue of PHA4 will be the
Gonosasthya Kendra campus in Savar (about 30 kms from Dhaka city).

The proposed structure of the program and the concept note are attached. The main themes of
PHA4 are:
 The political and economic landscape of development and health
 Social and physical environments that destroy or promote health
 Strengthening health systems to make them just, accountable, comprehensive,
integrated and networked
 Organizing and mobilizing yet again for Health for All

Activities will include:

 plenary sessions (opening & closing, one each on the main themes and special plenaries
on Bangladesh and the 40th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration)
 sub-plenary sessions after each thematic plenary session
 self organized workshops in the afternoon and evening
 discussions on future strategy in thematic and regional groups
 cultural presentations
 exhibitions
 closing march

In addition an IPHU (training of young activists) will be organized a week before PHA4.

Given that India is a close neighbor of Bangladesh, we expect a large participation – about 300-
400 – from India. Gonosasthya Kendra (GK) and PHM Bangladesh have offered to cover all local
accommodation and food costs. Participants from India can travel to Dhaka from Kolkata by
train or bus (total cost to and fro is about Rs.2000 and the journey is about 7 hours long). The
participation from India can be co-ordinated by a small group in JSA.

JSA and individual JSA members can contribute to the organization of the JSA in several ways:
 Mobilise volunteers to help in organizing PHA4
 Provide inputs regarding the programme, which will be circulated as it evolves
 Propose and organize self-organised activities, cultural presentations exhibitions, etc.,
 Participate in the IPHU and in PHA4
National Health Assembly

Sulakshana presented a proposal to organize the Third National Health Assembly (NHA3) in
Raipur, Chhattisgarh in September – for 3 days between 15-25 September, 2018. The Assembly,
it was proposed, could be linked with 10th anniversary celebrations of Public Health Resource
Network (PHRN).

It was felt, during the discussions, that the NHA should be seen as a part of a process of
continuous mobilization that challenges the neoliberal character of current policies, leading up
to the next general elections in 2019.

The NCC endorsed the proposal to organize NHA3 in Raipur in September

Decisions regarding NHA3:

1. JSA will organize a 2 ½ day NHA3 in Raipur in September (between 15-25 September)
2. JSA Chhattisgarh and PHRN will explore possible venues and finalise the dates in the
next weeks
3. The meeting felt that all major responsibilities for NHA3 should be with younger activists
(preferably below 45).
4. It was decided to form the following sub-committees to coordinate the work for NHA
(other members will need to be included):

 Mobilization: Gargeya,Amulya, Sanjeev, Satnam, Anoob

 Program: Abhijith, Muneer, Osama, Sulakshana, Rep. from NAPM, Susana,
Richa, Indranil, Ameer
 Logistics & Accommodation: local team in Raipur
 Fund Raising: Ganapathy, Raman.

5. A preliminary list of persons and organisations who could be contacted for donations
will be prepared. Organisations that can be contacted include: OXFAM, CHAI, CMAI, NFI,
Water-Aid, and various UN agencies. In addition, a crowd sourcing campaign was also
proposed.

6. The meeting felt that the main conference themes should be around: defence of public
services; resistance to privatization and unethical practices in private facilities; social
determinants of health; recognition of the Right to Health.

7. A possible slogan could be: The time to make health and healthcare a fundamental right
is Now!
Global Symposium by COPASAH

Abhay Shukla informed the meeting of a global symposium on making health services
accountable to communities to be organized by COPASAH in 2019. The NCC was requested to
consider the proposal for JSA to be a co-organiser (PHM is already a co-organiser). It was also
reported that JSA affiliated organisations, such as SOCHARA & PHRN are already involved in
COPASAH.

Decision

1. The NCC agreed to JSA being a co-organiser and suggested that JSA members who are
already involved could co-ordinate JSA’s participation as a co-organiser. They include:
Ameer, Sandhya, Susana, Ganapathy, Deepika , Prasanna, Abhay, Renu

Bioethics conference

The next global conference on Bioethics will be held on 2-5 December 2018 in Bangalore.
SAMA, SOCHARA, Society for Medical Ethics and St. Johns, Bangalore are involved in the local
hosting and organization of the conference. It was proposed that JSA should consider being a
partner (without any financial contribution) in organization of the conference. It was suggested
that there should be opportunities for activists (even if non-academic) to participate and
present.

Decision

It was agreed that JSA should be a partner in the conference

JSA Organisational Issues

Main Issues Discussed:

The meeting felt that JSA national secretariat functioning needs to be strengthened.

State JSAs too need strengthening and the issue of rotation of co-ordination of state JSA
chapters needs to be attended to.

Participants felt that in recent years there has been interest shown in JSA by different groups of
students and younger people. Currently the JSA structure lacks mechanisms to engage with
them in a systematic manner, especially students who are mobile and migrate from their place
of origin to educational institutions, and then to other places looking for employment.

It was reported that due to their involvement in PPPs, JSA Gujarat has decided to disassociate
itself from Deepak Foundation
The JSA website requires regular updating States should forward news of their activities
regularly to Gaergeya for uploading on the JSA website.

It was felt that JSA should create a mechanism to respond urgently to important issues.

Participants felt that a call should be sent out inviting interested persons to join and contribute
on different thematic areas of JSA’s work. A synergy can be developed in this regard with the
proposed student and youth chapter of JSA to.
It was also felt that JSA should devise programs like workshops, training sessions etc. on specific
issues and develop of generic ways to take these issues to different constituencies of JSA.

Decisions:

2. As a first step organisations involved in co-ordinating the JSA national Secretariat in

Delhi -- PHRN, SAMA and DSF – need to meet regularly and and periodically divide
responsibilities of the National Secretariat. It was also decided that organizations and
individuals not based in Delhi could volunteer to support the national Sectt. Sochara,
Sathi and Sahyog offered to support the national Sectt. As individuals Sundararamn,
Osama and Kriti offered to help the Delhi sect.

3. It was also decided that the next NCC meeting should discuss in detail the situation in
states as regards co-ordination of JSA activities within states.

4. A student and youth subcommittee of JSA should be formed to involve students and
youth and coordinate their activities. The sub-committee should be represented in the
JSA NCC. This sub committee would coordinate the involvement of students and youth
in thematic working groups and state JSA units. Gargeya volunteered to initiate the
process in collaboration with the national JSA Sectt.

5. A letter would be sent to Deepak foundation that their membership in JSA is being
revoked --Amulya would prepare a draft letter

6. A two-day JSA NCC meeting would be held preferably in June.

JSA’s involvement in Broad Movements

Abhay proposed that JSA should be an active partner in the platform called ‘Jan Ekta Jan
Adhikar Manch’ formed as a coalition of a number of progressive and democratic movements
and mass organizations. The platform is organizing a nationwide programme in May, focusing
on the failures of the current government in many fronts, and it was proposed that JSA should
also involve in these state level processes.
Decisions

1. Abhay Shukla will prepare a note related to health issues that can be part of the
platform’s core declaration, and circulate it for finalization.
2. JSA will share its state JSA contact list with Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Manch, so that JSA state
units can be involved in the platform’s activities

JSA-PBI project on health budget

Gargeya reported on the progress of the second phase of the JSA-PBI project in six states - :
Chhattisgarh, Odisha, A.P, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The project, in its second
phase, is designed to examine (and mobiles around) gaps in the national and especially state
Budgets with a focus on the following areas: Medicines, Human Resource for Health and
strengthening public provisioning of healthcare.

Community Monitoring of healthcare services

Many JSA states and JSA affiliated organizations are/have been involved in activities related to
community monitoring of healthcare services. It was noted that the earlier opportunity
available in the NRHM for CSOs to involve in such activities is being taken away, both by the
central and state governments.

Decision:

1. The next JSA meeting should include in its agenda a sharing of experiences in this
regard. A status report of community monitoring should be prepared, initiated by
Abhay, Amulya and Ameer

Current initiatives of the Government in healthcare provision

It was felt that JSA should respond to the proposed National health protection Scheme
and point out the fallacies and problems in the proposed scheme. Other issues that need to be
raised by JSA include: PPPs including outsourcing of diagnostic services; Free drugs and
diagnostics, and the new Bill on a ‘National Medical Commission’, the proposal on ‘Health and
Wellness Centres’

Participants from Rajasthan and Maharashtra presented case studies of PPPs in these states.

Decisions

1. Sundar to prepare a note on NHPS and on the proposed Health and Wellness Centres for
circulation and finalization as a JSA position document
 2. Case studies on PPPs need documentation and Sulakshana and Deepika will share tools
to develop them in different states

Private Sector in Medical Care

It was felt that JSA should collect stories/cases of exploitation/ethical violations and publish
them as a report. A charter of patient’s rights was recently adopted by NHRC. This should be
adopted/popularized by JSA. The three issues of gross overcharging, less pay to workers and
evasion of taxes by private corporate hospitals should be combined in a JSA’s campaign on the
private corporate sector. The government’s move to weaken regulatory bodies and institutions
like the NPPA should also be questioned.

Nurses’ strike in Kerala

A statement has been issued by JSA on the issue of Kerala nurses’ strike

HIV patients

It was reported that there is a need to intervene in the rising costs incurred by people with HIV
and the progressive reduction in the funding for HIV programmes. Private hospitals further
increase their rates for people with HIV and many times there is complete denial of services.

Access to Medicines

Issues flagged included drug price control, Draft Pharmaceutical Policy- 2017, ban on Fixed Drug
Combinations, and unethical promotion of medicines

Decision:

1. A booklet framing the issues around access to medicines in simple and easy to
understand language needs to be developed
2. A model Pharma Policy should be prepared by JSA, AIDAN, FMRAI and others. Amitava
and Mira will take the lead.

Nutrition

It was reported that the declaration of the recently concluded Conference on Double Burden of
Nutrition would be finalised soon and circulated within JSA and we will be forwarded in JSA-
Discuss. All those present acknowledged that the conference had been very well organized and
a success.

It was felt that co-ordination between the Right to Food campaign and JSA coordination should
be improved/revived at state and national levels and the Working Group under Six should be
revived and expanded. It was also suggested that the Mira and Vandana who had earlier been
the representatives of JSA to RTF Campaign should be requested to continue to be involved and
provide support to the new representatives.

Gender and Health

It was articulated that JSA needs to take a strong stand on gender related issues, particularly on
those related to gender based violence, and atrocities against marginalized communities.
Concern was also raised that gender issues do not figure in the work and discussions on
budgeting and UHC.

ESI scheme and Occupational Health

It was reported that ESI Hospitals are have huge vacancies of (40% of medical doctors and 30%
of specialists). The ESI Corporation is not able to provide adequate services and this is adversely
affecting workers. JSA needs to include the issues regarding the ESI scheme in its activities on
health system strengthening. An update of the ongoing SC PIL on silicosis was given by Amulya.

Decision:

A JSA consultation/meeting shall be organized by JSA- MP on the issues of occupational health.